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Sunday, February 17, 2013

Status report: why there have been no posts for a while, and won't be for another while

As long-time readers know, I have always had in mind to write a book. I've made several attempts over the past three decades. These attempts have failed. All I have to show are several half-finished manuscripts, not to mention half-finished projects, meant to be photo-samples.

What changed, and why am I telling you all this?

One of my kids studies Latin at University. In the ordinary course of things, I've been exposed. A certain Latin tag really struck me: Ars longa, vita brevis. In English, "life so short, the craft so long to learn." And, yeah, I'm not getting any younger.

So--in yet another victory of optimism over experience--I'm taking another run at it. Instead of writing the "giant book o' knitting" I've aimed for in the past, I've decided to narrow it down for this try--maybe it will only be a booklet--and the subject has been narrowed, too: color knitting.

The plan is to start from the simplest--stripes--then run right through some wonderful new tricks for dealing with long floats. These new tricks finally make possible giant picture knitting. These are tricks which free stranded knitting completely from the "5 stitches before touchdown" rule, and let you go wild with super-long floats in intarsia, too, with no show-through whatsoever on the outside, no, not even when the fabric is stretched. (Yes, these tricks exist, have been knitted up and really work. I just need to write them up.) Other tricks I need to write up include a new trick for knitting and dyeing combined which I call "shadow dyeing," new tricks for keeping track of color patterns, new tricks with weaving, oh, so many new tricks, all fighting to get out.

I didn't want you all to think I had fallen off a cliff, or lost interest--nothing could be further from the truth. I'm trying hard get all these ideas down in one place, not to mention the relief it would bring: these ideas have been racing around my head trying to get out and are just starting to pile up in the.most.annoying.way.

Will a book(let) actually happen? If past experience is anything to go by, then no.
So, don't be disappointed, OK? Probably, I will have to come crawling back to you in a few months, book-less.

Nevertheless, I hope that coming right out in public and saying what I'm working on might hold my feet to the fire. And, you know, reassure you all that TECHknitting is only taking a work-break. New ideas are continuing to be generated, tried out, knitted up, illustrated and described.

(Not to mention that I have many new ideas--OH so many new ideas--about cables, too. Also a whole new afterthought buttonhole--a button-though one right in the middle of the buttonband that is completely and utterly afterthought. Oh dear...more distractions.)

Well, hopefully I will see you all soon-ish, with an announcement of success, and an e-book(let) for sale. At the worst, I will at least return with a bunch of new posts on color knitting.

Until then, good knitting, from your (lazy-and-disorganized-but-trying-to-get-over-it) TK

I'm not going to say "good luck" because luck has very little to do with writing a book. So I'll stick with Good Work! :)

If you haven't discovered it already, Scrivener is a wonderful tool for writing and organizing a book, the latter which is a struggle for me. I've written two books with it, countless book proposals, and most recently used it to compile a back-edition so my co-author and I can sell it on the Kindle, Nook, etc. Can't recommend the software highly enough ... and no, I don't get kickbacks; just a happy customer.

Anyhoo, I think I'm going to cross-stitch that Latin phrase on a pillow.

OK, I won't say "good luck," either, I'll just say, "go, Go, GOOOO!" =) I haven't ventured into color knitting yet, because I am very technical and I have been waiting for the right explanations. I'll be awaiting this book(let)! No pressure. ;) And if it doesn't happen, I'll be here awaiting lots of lovely posts, in any case.

I'm pleased you having a crack at this because I think it will be a brilliant book. I love the way you look at knitting and explain things. Your blog is one of my favourite go-to places to look up how to do something. Your new posts are missed but your blog is still a place I visit regularly because it is an incredible resource, which I'm sure a book/let would be!

Good luck with the book(let). If you get it done, I will buy it! But generally I'm just grateful that you blog as much as you do, I can't tell you how useful your methods are. It's the kind of stuff that will probably never make it into a 'big book o' knitting' - not standard enough - but that's part of what I like about knitting: improved methods, tricksy techniques, personal solutions that may or may not translate to another knitter. All the stuff that keeps it fresh for me!

Bravo! I've been waiting years to hear you say that. I'll second another commenter who said she compiles your blog posts for her own reference. I've done that, too. If it's any help, I also cut out about half the words. It's just the old adage - if I'd had more time, I would have written you a shorter letter. But you have to let all the words out first, if only to stop them from running around in your head. So, if you ever need a heartless red pen, I'm here for you.

Have someone organize your blog entries AND your new thoughts into a book. You could then concentrate on just the unwritten bits leaving the organizing to an editor. Many knitters would buy that book at any price. Thank you so much for all you've already given us.

A booklet on a narrow topic sounds like a wonderful way to start. I agree with everyone who suggests putting your new ideas into post-like form, and combining them with whatever colorwork posts you've already included in this blog. Many would buy this, regardless of the "repeat" of already-published posts, for the significant usefulness of having all those posts in one place and in hard-copy form. Perhaps then you'll be able to move on to similar booklet(s) on other topics...! Brava, and I hope the process goes smoothly for you!

It would be amazing to be inside your head. I imagine it would be like a pinball machine, except the pins would all be made of swatches, and your readers (the pinballs) would be whappity-thunking against them, getting crazy and dizzy with excitement.

Wishing you all the luck I can think of for this wonderful venue - may you work go as smoothly as possible, may you not lose patience during impossible days, and may you rest assured that your many, many readers will support you with their positive thoughts! Am already thrilled to see such great ideas in THAT BOOK!

Go! Let all these running ideas out of your head and fix them on a page. And follow the motto ofone of my fav authors who once said: "a bad page can be fixed, a blank one can't."Just keep them coming, and there are lots of knitters out there who will receive them with cheers.mhs

Sorry to join the crowd and put more pressure on you: I would buy your book too. And if a book never works out, no problem for me when you just keep writing your interesting posts once in a while. Good luck wishes from Marie-Therese in Germany

Book, ebook, booklet, ebooklet, or pamphlet... I'll get it! I just discovered knitting, I just discovered your blog and I LOVE that you are dedicating the book to color knitting. I'm taking up knitting (started last week actually) so that I could knit fair isle hats and sweaters for my kidlets and me. I have no idea yet what a float even is, but I can't wait to learn.

Best of luck to you! What a boon for us! I am just getting into colorwork and I think I will read your ebook before I get into bad habits! Long floats that don't show when stretched? You tease you! This time you WILL finish. :)

An afterthought buttonhole ist just what I need right now. I should imagine publisher knock at your door already considering you are a real "celebrity" in knit-blogging circles, but then again, publishers have often been known to make the wrong decisions (which they regretted forever after. serves them right).Good luck to you, in this case, is a totally selfish wish!

Oh my dear TECHknitter, I will miss your tips very much. I was looking forward to the segment on picking up stitches but will wait patiently and hope you come back to blogging! You have been such a help to me and many of my friends. Good luck with the book(let)!

From what you've said,you've hit on exactly the right idea by (1) focusing on a single topic that you have passion for; and (2) by using the e-book format.

Remember that you can approach it in an ongoing format the way Cat Bordhi did with her sock e-book, by providing updates over a pre-arranged period of time. That way, you can cover the basics of what you've already got on color knitting techniques, then add both new information and also enhancements to what you've presented as you develop it and receive feedback. All of use who buy/subscribe will be happy as clams and feel we've gotten so much more than we ever expected. A win-win for you, who can continue to develop your ideas and hone the presentation and still have closure at the end, and for the subscribers for the reasons above. And at the end of the period, you can close that one and start another on cabling and intarsia. And you can bet everyone will be happy to buy the new one.I'm excited for you!Thank you for the Latin phrase; I think I'm going to knit it into the brim of the hat I'm working on!

I am eagerly awaiting a way to deal with long floats, as I always hated them as a kid. I just hope there will be a way to buy your book without using online methods; I'd much rather send a postal money order or even a certified check.

Sounds awesome! I'm a professional writer, a very good editor/proofreader, and would be glad to lend a hand to your project at no charge what-so-ever. I owe you so much for all the help over the years, it would be the least I could do!

How exciting! Best of luck in your endevours! If there is a product we will be here to purchase it, if no product we will be here to cherish you and your wisdom nonetheless. Happy knitting and writing!

I just dropped by to check on the status of your intriguing book project. I wanted to let you know that if getting samples knitted up is hanging you up this time around, I'd be happy to help out. (I'm sure lots of your other readers would, too). My Ravelry ID is Mollpeartree if you'd like to get in touch.

Hi MPT--Thank you SOOOO much for your offer. The problem is not knitting the samples--the actual problem is trying to describe the techniques. Stuff I could show in a minute takes WEEKS to write and illustrate. Ah well. I am plugging along, but verrrrry slowly. If I find that sample knitting is the limiting factor, I will certainly take advantage of your kind offer. Best regards, and thanks again, TK

Good luck with the book! I have been using your blog for all sorts of tips and tricks. However because you haven't yet written up your afterthought buttonhole, as far as I can tell, I had to invent (or more likely unvent) my own afterthought, Tamsin's Emergency Ladder Buttonhole, when I recently changed my mind about how many buttonholes a baby cardigan should have. See http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WnEF6-kKnGk&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DWnEF6-kKnGk

I would love to know how your afterthought buttonhole works, the world needs more of these!Tamsin in NZ

I, for one, will be the first in line to buy the book. Wishing you tons of inspiration and motivation. Your blog has been priceless, especially when it comes to short rows, tiny tubes, and yes, eliminating the jog in color knitting. Thank you for posting and sharing.

I am going to send a bunch of creative energy your way towards your goal of writing your book. As a LYS owner, I think your instructions are some of the best I've ever seen. Make it happen! I'd love to see my customers all have copies!

Aloha TECHknitter! Your works have made me a fearless knitter. I have been trying to figure out the best way to translate my brother's artwork into a knitted hat so I am extremely excited to learn your tricks and techniques for color knitting. Since you mentioned it would take a minute to show us, then please do! I would definitely pay for a Craftsy video course of you! Hope you don't mind that I will put that in the Craftsy suggestion box too. ;)). Thanks so much for everything you have shared. Should you need a test knitter, I volunteer to help. My Ravelry id is drAYAgonfly. Mahalo nui loa!

I just discovered your blog today. It's FABULOUS!! Thank you for sharing so much - everything!

Failed attempts at books? When you could just compile everything here into one mega-book of knitting wisdom, know-how, techniques, and humour? Or perhaps the problem is getting it all down to book size? Yes, that must be it.

Dear TK , I have had you on my safari bar ,you and your blogs are a welcome uplift to me every time I open this, your fantastic words and incredible help are there to greet me! Try as I may, I am a very slow knitter, at other places , even my lys I feel down when I see everyone's knitting so fast, they whiz by. I am very ill a lot of neuro issues. I love knitting, though I am slow and awkward. I haved gained so much peace, help, gentle teaching words that with your site, it gave me courage to start a knit/spin/fiber/crochet group. I bring anyone with a problem here! It is like you are our fairy godmother , and thank you TK for your unwavering hope in all your posts.! You birthed this wealth of information, and my group named Ewe-Knit-Tea has gained so much support from you! Thank you over and over again! though our group be small in number, we are rich in caring. I hope, dear TK you will hear from all the creative people you have helped! I would love a book of all your teachings, in case electricy or the web were to ever fail, LOL! I hope your heart will be warmed knowing you helped a group of aged baby boomers to continue to learn. Words are so inadequate , but Bless you for this life work, I cherish you and your brilliant brain,,! Stay happy,, from, Grace, founder of the now five yr old EweKnitTea group, all of us appreciate you!

Dear Grace--Thank you for your very kind words. Knitting is both soothing and creative--you get out of it what you bring to it. Being a process knitter myself (I have astonishingly few finished objects, considering how much knitting I do) I completely understand the joy of the knitting process itself. I find that the joy of drawing one loop through another doesn't derive from the speed at which it is done. Best regards to you and the other members of your group, TK